How Much Experience Do You *Really* Need to Be a Travel Nurse?

“How much experience do I need to be a travel nurse” is by far the most commonly asked question that I receive day after day.  And before I get to answer how much experience you need to be a travel nurse, I’m going to explain exactly what a travel nurse is so that you can best understand the reason behind my answer.

 

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• Your A-Z Guide to Travel Nursing

 

What is a Travel Nurse?

A travel nurse is a contracted nurse who works at hospitals that have a shortage of nurses (or a significant increase in patient population).  Contracts can range from any amount of time, but a typical travel nurse contract lasts about 13-weeks.

A travel nurse is just like a staff nurse, but not a permanent part of the hospital.  Travel nurses get the same training and schooling that staff nurses get, as they have to be staff nurses before they can become travel nurses.  Travel nurses are flexible, smart, and generally adaptable.  I would also point out that travel nurses generally learn quickly, as policies at different hospitals are always different and the orientation process for a travel nurse is very short (ranging from a couple of hours to a couple of shifts).

With all of that being said…

 

 

How Much Experience Do You Need to Be a Travel Nurse?

To be a travel nurse, I would say that you need a minimum of two years of experience (on one specific unit).  Although, there can be some leniency to this.

For starters, the “two-year” rule is mainly for safety reasons.  Once you become a travel nurse you’re expected to jump right in and know what you’re doing.  Although I still ask questions daily, you need to have a general understanding of how to do everything.  How can you learn “everything” in one short year?  You need to be confident in your skills and knowledge base to be able to show up, get little to no orientation, and safely take care of patients.

Not to mention, most reputable hospitals won’t hire travelers with less than two years of experience.  I know one NICU nurse who traveled after working for 1.5 years and she said that it was tough.  She was only able to get a few jobs in undesirable areas, but she said most jobs were out of reach.  And while there are hospitals that will hire travelers before gaining two years of experience, I urge you to think of it like this…  Why is the hospital in such a bind that they would risk patient safety to have you join their team?  There must be something seriously wrong in the unit to need help that badly.  And do you want to be a part of that?

 

When Gaining Nursing Experience… Your Specialty Matters

Previously, I mentioned that the “two years of experience” rule can come with some leniency.  And that is – what is your specialty?  For critical care and intensive care settings, you’re going to need to have at least two years of experience before you start travel nursing.  For other units, like med-surg and general floors, you may be able to start traveling before getting two years of experience.

If this is you and you’re ready to start traveling before your two years of experience I urge you to get with a recruiter you trust (if you fill out this form, you will be matched with my go-to recruiter) and be 100% honest about where you’re at with your skills.

Please note, there can even be an exception to the “specialty” rule.  That is, say you work in the NICU at a level IV hospital taking care of the sickest babies out there.  If you were desperate to begin traveling, you may be able to snag a job on a well-baby floor or in a level II NICU.  If you’re flexible in what area of the hospital you’re working in, it will be easier for you to get a job.

 

Need tips on how to find a trustworthy recruiter?  Read these posts…

• How to Pick the Right Travel Nurse Recruiter For You
• Why Picking a Travel Nurse Recruiter is More Important Than Picking a Company

 

Travel Nursing with Less than 2 Years of Experience

Inevitably there is going to be someone who reads this post who isn’t thrilled about my answer.  And if that’s you, you may be thinking, “I’m going to prove her wrong!”  To which I say, “Good for you.  I love someone who knows what they want and goes for it!”  If you are set on traveling before you gain two years of experience, here are some general tips to get you traveling quickly and safely…

• Be the most experienced nurse on your floor.  Ask for tough assignments, go out of your way to learn, and make sure to continuously practice your skills!
• Go above and beyond when getting certified.  If you’re only required to have BLS, get your ACLS too, and any other certifications that are relevant to your specialty.
• Ask to float/cross-train to other relevant floors (just make sure a majority of your time is spent on your “home” unit).  Chances are you’ll be floated as a traveler, it’s best to prepare while you’re still staff so that you can get a proper orientation.

 

You Have 2-Years of Experience in Nursing… Now What?

About five months before celebrating your two-year nursing anniversary, I recommend reaching out to recruiters (plural, I highly suggest working with more than one recruiter when you start).  This way you can submit everything you need to submit, get your references ready to go, etc.  Once you’ve reached out to a couple of recruiters and told them your desired start date, they will start submitting you to jobs you want.  From there you will interview, sign a contract, orient, and start!  For more details on what you can expect, make sure to read this post.

 

THE TWO COMPANIES I RECOMMEND ARE HOST HEALTHCARE AND FUSION MEDICAL STAFFING – WHEN YOU FILL OUT THE ATTACHED FORMS, MY FAVORITE RECRUITERS WILL CONTACT YOU!

 

Don’t miss…

• 7 Red Flags in Travel Nursing

 

Travel Nurse Essentials

 

So, how much experience do you need to be a travel nurse?  Two years.  You want to feel confident in your skills, able to think critically about your patients, and feel comfortable interacting with the medical team.  If you have any questions about your experience or need more tips/advice on travel nursing, leave a comment below!

 

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For more information and inspiration on all things nursing and travel nursing, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinscrubs” or under my highlights for “Nursing” or “Travel Nursing”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Nursing” or “Travel Nursing” highlight

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